Public Meeting Planned for "Logistics Lane" Project
Project aims to improve safety, accessibility along
State Route 7
 MARIETTA - The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 10 invites the public to a meeting regarding a planned safety improvement project along State Route 7 in Washington County.
About the "Logistics Lane" Project
The project will take place on State Route 7 from Veto Road (County Road 3) to the northern end of Blue Knob Road (County Road 10), which is located between Belpre and Marietta. Construction would begin in 2027.
Purpose and Need
Safety Improvements: There is a history of crashes at both the Veto Road/Blue Knob Road and State Route 7/northern Blue Knob Road intersections. Planned improvements would increase safety.
Capacity Improvements: There is potential for future development in this area, and studies show that there would be excessive delays at existing intersections in the future if improvements are not made.
Environmental Improvements: The area has a history of flooding. This is being considered during the design phase of the project, so that improvements can be made which will reduce high water impacts.
Technology Improvements: Infrastructure will be constructed which will facilitate future testing and deployment of smart mobility solutions in the corridor.
A web-based application named Central Ohio River Information System (CORIS) that displays individual port information will be expanded.
The Alternatives
Numerous alternatives will be shown during the public meeting, including the preferred alternative. It includes construction of a full Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) at Veto Road and a full offset RCUT at Gravel Bank Road. Additionally, an interchange would be constructed at northern Blue Knob Road. Southern Blue Knob Road would remain open, and Gravel Bank and Blue Knob Roads would be improved. All alternatives can be viewed on the project page.
Why RCUTS?
In addition to allowing for more efficient movement of traffic, RCUT intersections can reduce the total number of conflicts points by up to 50 percent, therefore limiting collision opportunities and, typically, the severity of such collisions. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has deemed RCUTs a proven safety countermeasure. Video of an RCUT being navigated can be found on the project page.
Public Meeting
A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 19 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the gymnasium at the Marietta Armory, 241 Front Street, Marietta. The format will be open house. There will not be a formal presentation.
Comment Submission
Comments can be submitted via the project website, email, phone, or mail until December 19, 2024:
Matthew First, P.E.
338 Muskingum Drive
Marietta, Ohio 45750
(740) 568-3945
Matthew.First@dot.ohio.gov
ODOT values public participation and encourages feedback regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability. For those unable to access the meeting, additional information can be obtained by contacting Matthew First.
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